by K'wan
“That’s bullshit. Animal would never hurt Gucci!” Brasco said assuredly.
“Don’t matter what we know, all that’s gonna matter is where the evidence points,” Sonja said. “Gucci’s death is something that’s going to be impossible to hide, so at this point I think our best bet is to put together a story that’s so airtight that it keeps Animal from the gas chamber and all of us from being mistaken as accessories. Turning our attention towards the more immediate problem, my father’s wife has both our children and we need to get them back. The more time we waste the more we risk Lilith hiding them away from us somewhere in her networks. I won’t have my child fall victim to the Brotherhood and their brainwashing, or Gucci’s son. I will bring those children home.”
Brasco snorted. “If your dad’s cartel is as heavy as you say it is, then we’re probably gonna need a small army to have even the slimmest of chances of getting those kids out alive.”
“Not an army,” Ashanti spoke up. “Just a few good niggas who don’t mind dying.”
CHAPTER 2
Shai sat in his new office, located inside the Empire State Building, looking out at the skyline. The sun had recently set and the city was breathing its second wind, transforming from a collective of shiny glass towers to a complex pattern of bright lights and sounds. New York was a beautiful city during the day, but at night, it was like looking into the cosmos. It was a city full of possibilities and opportunities. Looking down from twenty stories above street level, Shai felt like he was the king of it all, and he was.
Aside from the few years he spent in college, Shai had lived in New York all of his life. He was the youngest son of who some said was the last of the old world gangsters, Poppa Clark. Poppa Clark had always strived to make sure that his children were afforded the best of everything from education to the way they lived. It had been his life’s mission to build a world for his children where they wouldn’t have to suffer through the same mistakes that he had made, but when he was killed, Shai found himself placed on the underworld throne by default. Like his father, Shai also had a vision of the world he wanted to build, one where he would reign as the undisputed king and he was well on his way to seeing his dream come to fruition.
There was a soft knock on his office door.
“Come,” Shai said without bothering to turn away from the window.
A man who looked to be in his early to mid-thirties came into the room. He was dressed in a tan blazer, black shirt, and black jeans. On one side of his face, he bore a scar that had been gifted to him by a woman named Kastro before he cut her throat. “He’s here.”
“Thanks, Angelo. Show him in,” Shai said, taking a minute to button the jacket of his gray suit and settled into the wing- backed chair behind his desk. He noticed Angelo still lingering in the doorway. “Is there something else?”
“Shai, are you sure about this? I mean, I’m not questioning your judgment or anything like that, but it’s kind of beneath you to be taking a meeting with a solider, a foot soldier at that.”
“Angelo, as I recall, back when you were a foot soldier my father would talk to you all the time. He kicked it with all you guys whenever he got the chance,” Shai told him.
“Yeah, but that was different. We were soldiers in Poppa’s army. This kid ain’t one of us. To top it off, he and his brother are fucking sociopaths,” Angelo pointed out.
“As always, I thank you for your council old friend and I’ll take your concerns into consideration during my meeting,” Shai said dismissively.
“Whatever you say, boss,” Angelo said with a hint of sarcasm in his voice and went to fetch the visitor.
Shai knew that he had offended Angelo, but it hadn’t been intentional. He had been under a tremendous amount of stress lately. Being handed the throne was one thing, but holding it was proving to be something else. The crown was weighing heavily on his head and it was driving Shai further away from the man he was and making him the man he needed to be to ensure the future of his family and preserve his father’s legacy.
A moment later, Angelo returned with a young man trailing him. Shai had never met him personally until then, but knew him by his reputation in the streets. He wore a Yankee fitted cap pulled low over his face, but not so low, where you couldn’t see the scowl painted across it. Long braids spilled from beneath his cap and tickled his shoulders. As he ambled into the room, his pants sagged so low that Shai couldn’t help but to wonder how he could walk with them like that. He looked around, openly admiring Shai’s expansive office. His eyes landed on the double doors on the other side of the room and he hesitated for a moment, as if he was having second thoughts. After a brief mental debate, he continued towards the desk. Without waiting to be invited, Abel helped himself to the seat across from Shai.
“Feel free to make yourself at home,” Shai said sarcastically.
It was then that Abel realized his error in etiquette. “My fault, Shai. It’s not too often than a hood nigga like me sits with kings, so I don’t know the rules.” It wasn’t a cop-out, just Abel being honest.
“I ain’t no king, shorty. I’m a man, same as you and Angelo.” Shai nodded to his friend, who was standing behind Abel as if he was expecting trouble out of the youngster.
“If you say so, Shai,” Abel said with an easy smirk. “Dig, I know you’re a busy man so I’m not going to take up too much of your time. First and foremost, thank you for agreeing to meet with me on behalf of my big homie. Ashanti says to tell you that he appreciates it.”
“You’re not sitting across that table because of Ashanti. Shai agreed to meet with you on the strength of Big Doc,” Angelo corrected him. Big Doc was one of the O.G’s in the organization. Apparently, he was doing time with someone Ashanti knew and owed them a favor so he reached out to ask Shai to spare a few minutes for the youngsters.
Abel looked at Angelo like he wanted to spit on him, but held his tongue. It wasn’t the time or place to chin check the old-head. “However it went, we appreciate it. Now,” he turned back to Shai, “as you may or may not have heard we’ve recently suffered a tragedy.”
“Yes, unfortunately I have,” Shai shook his head sadly. “These are terrible times we’re living in when a man’s wife and family are no longer respected as off limits. Animal and I haven’t had the smoothest relationship over the last few years, but my heart still goes out to him. As a husband and a parent myself, I can imagine what he’s going through. Please offer him my condolences.”
“Your condolences are appreciated, Shai, but I came hoping for your help,” Abel told him.
“How so?”
“The people who have taken Animal’s children are no slouches. They’ve got muscle and political connections. These are things we’re a bit short on, but you have them in abundance,” Abel said.
“Is that right?” He leaned back in his chair and steepled his fingers, looking at Abel as if he had lost his mind.
“Look, Shai, I know what you’re thinking and I’m not here asking you to get involved directly, just to provide us with an umbrella. If the cartel thinks we’re affiliated with the Clarks they might be willing to listen to reason instead of taking this thing further than it’s already gone. We ain’t asking you for no money, and my crew busts their own guns. All we need is for you to keep everybody honest while we work this shit out.”
Shai shook his head. “I’m empathetic to your problems, but I can’t get involved, directly or indirectly. It could kick off an international drug war between us and Poppito’s Cartel and I can’t put my entire organization at risk for Animal’s beef.”
“It’s Animal’s beef now, but how soon do you think it’ll be before it becomes your beef too?” Abel shot back. “Now that Lilith is calling the shots, the cartel is looking to expand. It’s Puerto Rico and the south at the moment, but it won’t be long before they’re encroaching on the east coast cities you lay claim to.”
“When and if the time comes where Popptio or Lilith forget their places, I’ll remin
d them where the Clarks stand. Until such time, I can’t get involved. But to show that I am not completely without compassion to your plight, I’ll reach out to some of my people in the F.B.I and see if they can help get a line on Animal’s kids.”
Abel laughed. “Picture a man like Animal sitting around waiting for the law to bring back what belongs to him. You saw how he reacted when he thought you tried to kill Gucci, so can you imagine the wrath that’s gonna be unleashed behind what them Puerto Ricans did?”
“That sounds like a nice way of saying he’s about to start killing shit,” Shai read between the lines.
“That’s an understatement, chief. Like you said, Shai, you’re a family man and a parent. How would you react if the shoe was on the other foot? Animal is going to go on a biblical rampage and carve out a path of bodies to get to Lilith, and that path is going to cut right through your backyard.”
Shai’s face became serious. “Now you listen to me. You boys are pissed, and rightfully so, but I’m not going to have Animal or anyone else come to New York and make it a war zone. Feelings aside, he needs to keep that shit in Cali, and out of my city.”
Abel matched his seriousness. “I hate to burst your bubble, good king, but Animal is already in your city.”
This caught Shai by surprise. “How is it that a natural disaster has blown into town and I wasn’t made aware?” He was speaking to Abel, but the question was really directed at Angelo
“Because, with all due respect, the Dog Pound answers to no one, not even kings,” Abel said.
“For somebody who came in here looking for a hand out your sure are a cocky little fuck,” Angelo said.
“There’s a difference between being cocky and being honest, old head,” Abel shot back. “Look I ain’t saying nothing that everybody in this room doesn’t already know. Regardless of whether the Clarks help us or not, people are going to die, we were just hoping to limit some of the casualties by reaching out to you Shai.”
Shai sighed. “And as I’ve already told you, I can’t get in the middle of this. I’ve got a family and a city to run. Making an unnecessary enemy of the cartel would be…” he searched for the right words, “...bad for business.”
“Oh, I get it. Lilith has got you in her pocket too, huh?” Abel accused. “You know for all that king of kings shit you talk, I’m kind of surprised to see you follow a trend.”
“You’re treading on thin ice. I’d hate for you to fall into the deep end,” Angelo warned.
Abel laughed. “Nigga, I’m already drowning,” he stood. “I understand your position, Shai. I can’t say I respect it, but I understand. Before I go, let me give you some food for thought, tigers are gluttons. Even when they’re full, they’ll keep eating as long as there is fresh meat in front of them. When you hear them claws scratching at the walls of the city, I want you to remember that you turned your back on the best chance you had to put that bitch down.” He turned to leave, but Angelo blocked his path.
“I don’t recall you being dismissed,” Angelo said.
Abel looked him up and down. “Homie, you must not have heard me when I said the Dog Pound don’t answer to nobody. Now you can either let me pass, or grab your strap and get busy. I’ve got shit to do.”
Angelo looked to Shai, who motioned for him to let Abel pass.
Abel stepped towards the door then stopped short. “You know, I once asked Ashanti why he or Animal never went after your family when they thought you’d shot Gucci intentionally.”
“And what did he say?” Shai asked.
“He said because Animal wouldn’t allow it. Even though your boys had done some fuck shit, he felt like you and he were honorable men, and honorable men respected the sanctity of families. I guess he was half right on that.”
His words touched Shai, but he kept his demeanor neutral. “Abel, it may not count for much, but I am sorry that it has to be this way.”
Abel smirked. “I seriously doubt that, but before it’s all said and done you will be.”
*
“You should’ve let me dust that lil nigga instead of letting him walk out,” Angelo said once Abel had gone.
“Dust him for what, coming to try and help reunite a man with his kids? Where is the wrong in that? Am I not supposed to be the king of the city?” Shai got up and began pacing the room. Turning Abel away was a business decision, but that didn’t help his conscience any. “Men who willingly play the game getting touched is something I can deal with, but families…” his words trialed off. “No matter what’s going on women and children are supposed to be off limits, and Lilith has crossed that line. This isn’t how the game is supposed to be played, Angelo. She’s gone too far.”
“In times of war there’ll always be men who have to make the hard decisions. Those are usually the men who end up winning.”
The double doors on the other side of Shai’s office swung open and in walked a man wearing a tailored black suit. He was dark skinned with a clean-shaven head and eyes as green as jade. On his face, he wore an easy smile, one that he had spent years practicing to throw his enemies off. He was a master of espionage and misdirection.
Trailing him was a man who was slightly more handsome, but equally as dangerous. Instead of a suit he wore baggy blue jeans and a long sleeve graphic t-shirt that hugged his muscular frame. His long black hair, which was usually braided into two Pocahontas ponytails, hung freely about his face. He had taken to wearing it like that to hide the small scar near his ear that ran along his jaw. He and his partner had been in the next room listening the whole time Shai was talking to Abel.
The two men represented a group of mercenaries who called themselves Los Negro Muerte, roughly translated to The Black Death. They had started out as a street crew in Harlem called the Road Dawgz until they took their game international. La Muerte Negra had changed the tides of war and the fortunes of kings and it was their unique skill set that had brought them stateside and into an uneasy partnership with Shai Clark.
“I take it you heard all that, K-Dawg?” Shai asked the man in the black suit.
“Indeed I did, and I expected no less. To be honest I’m glad to see my lil’ dawg still has his fangs,” K-Dawg said and invited himself to the seat Abel had vacated moments prior. His partner, Justice, remained standing.
“You say that like it’s a good thing,” Angelo said.
“It is, all depending on who the dog ends up biting.” K-Dawg crossed one long leg over the other. “Overall, I’d say this was a pretty damn interesting turn of events,” he chuckled. “Please tell me how the fuck you can find humor in a man’s kids getting snatched? That ain’t how the game is played!”
Shai said angrily. Being a parent, he empathized with Animal and what he was likely going through.
K-Dawg turned his green eyes to Shai. “I’ve been playing this game a lot longer than you, so please don’t try and lecture me on the rules,” he checked him. “In all honesty Shai, this kidnapping angle wasn’t something I saw coming, but I’d be lying if I said I was overly broken up over of it. Animal was a piece on the chessboard that I had written off until he was recently put back in play. This kidnapping might’ve been a blessing in disguise.”
Shai gave K-Dawg a disapproving look. “Spoken like a man who doesn’t have kids.”
K-Dawg stood and faced Shai. All traces of the businessman he presented himself as fell away and all that was left was the street nigga that he was. “While you’re standing there trying to judge me, like I don’t know the pain of loss, let me give you a little history lesson, my nigga. I am the product of the white man who raped my mother, and was raised by a man who hated me enough to try and kill me when I was barely old enough to read. I was a curse on my family and brought down everybody who was ever dumb enough to care about me, but my one moment of redemption came when it fell to me to raise my sister’s kid. All I had to do was make sure that kid had at least a halfway decent shot at life to balance out everything I had ever done wrong, but I fucked that
up because I just couldn’t seem to keep my nose out of the life. My love of the game corrupted the one thing I was supposed to keep pure, and I had to watch from a distance as my nephew became everything I was supposed to protect him from.”
“So what’s your point?” Shai asked.
“My point is, a man can’t live in both worlds and expect them to not overlap. For as long as we choose to play the game no matter how hard we try and insulate the people and things we love, eventually they all get sucked into our bullshit. We either hang up the hustle or ride out and take whoever along for the ride with us. There are no gray areas. Nobody is exempt from this simple fact, including kings, Shai. You’d do well to remember that moving forward.”
“And you’d do well to remember the terms of our agreement,” Shai shot back. “I’m in this to make money, not settle personal vendettas.”
“Whoever made omelets without breaking eggs? Don’t get so beside yourself that you forget who has made it possible for your plans to expand to come to fruition!” K-Dawg told him. “Look, Shai, I understand your concerns but it’s all going to work out in the long run. Animal is as lethal as they come, but without the proper support his chances at succeeding Lilith are slim to none. He’ll fight the good fight as he always does, but this is a battle he can’t win.”
“But what if he does?” Shai questioned. “Once he’s done with Lilith what’s to stop him from following the trail back to us and discovering our parts in this? If Animal comes at me again there won’t be a reprieve this time. He’s going down for
The long nap. Is that going to be a problem?” He was speaking to K-Dawg, but looking at Justice.
K-Dawg looked from Shai to Justice. “What do you say, Jus? If it comes down to it will Animal dying be a problem for you?”